Humidifying system



Dec. 11, 1934. C, HAGEN 1,983,753.-

HUMIDIFYING SYSTEM Filed March 1, 195o the room before it UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,983,753 HUMIDIFYING SYSTEM Carl Hagen, Park Ridge, Ill. Application March 1, 1930, Serial No. 432,428

This invention relates to the 4 Claims.

humidiflcation of the atmosphere in buildings and its object is to provide an eficient and economical apparatus for introducing moisture into the air of a dwelling house, apartment or tic feature of my invention is the like in connection with the supply of heat thereto.

A characteristhat the moisture is introduced into the atmosphere of a room in the form of dry steam,

to some extent superheated, and to this end steam,

preferably generated by the flash system, is subjected to a drying or superheating treatment before being injected into the atmosphere. A

second feature of the invention is that the device through which the steam, is arranged directly in a example, in the case of a thus dried or superheated is emitted, heated air current, for steam or hot Water radiator, is arranged either between the legs of the radiator or directly above the radiator so `that the emitted steam is away and dispersed immediately carried through the atmosphere of has a chance to condense.

These two features prevent wetting and soiling vof carpets, rugs, wall paper,

like.

hangings and the A further object of the invention is to provide a humidifying system which when properly installed and adjusted will operate without further attention.

The invention consists in the novel and improved constructions, arrangements and devices for carrying out other incidental objects as will the above stated objects and such be adverted to in the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention dis companying drawing.

In the drawing:

closed in the ac' Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the humidifying apparatus of my invention as water heating system.

applied to a hot Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views on lines 2--2 and 3 3, respectively, of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a mod'iied form of distributing device; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring first to Figs.

l, 2 and 3, 10 designates v.an opening 13.

In the space thus provided is arranged a moisture distributing device 14 consisting preferably of a perforated pipe 15, a condensation pipe 16 and a header 17. 'I'he distributing device is in any case arranged in an air current passing through or away from the heating element, whether said element be the radiator of a steam or hot water system, or the register of a hot air system. 'Ihe condensation pipe is optional, though preferable, and instead of being connected to the header 17 might have a separate discharge 10 pipe leading to any desired point..

Steam is supplied in a dry superheated condition to the distributing device 14 in the following manner: assuming that the system is a hot water system, the water used for humidification is generated into steam, preferably by a flashing operation, and the steam thus formed `is then subjected to a drying or superheating operation, these operations being preferably performed in a coil 19 located in the flue 11 of the heater 10. This flash steam generator, as will be noted, serves the double purpose, since the coil 19 extends a substantial distance within the iiue 11, of rst, generating steam and then superheating the generated steam. This generator, therefore, will be hereinafter referred to as a generator-superheater. As a matter of convenience, the flue 11 may be formed with an opening in the top, designated 20 (Fig. 3) large enough to admit the coil, which is fastened, in that case, to the under side of a cover plate 21 which may be secured to the ue l1 by fastening devices 22 and through which extend the Water supply pipe 23 and steam outflow pipe 24.

The pipeY 23 is provided with a valve, preferably of the needle valve type, designated 25, which in the operation of the system, is adjusted to give a trickle of waterinto the coil 19 in an amount suflicient for the humidication of the room or building, but small enough so that the water is flashed into steam by coming in contact with the coil. In the case of a readily accessible supply of steam, however, the pipe 23 may be connected directly therewith, and the needle valve 25 adjusted to control the amount of steam passing into the coil, in which event the coil would serve the single function of superheating or drying. The steam passing through the rest of the coil is superheated and dried and in this state enters the pipe 24. The pipe 24 is connected with a trap 26, formed with a deflector 27 standing in front of the steam inlet port 28 and with a baille-plate 29 extending some distance below the water outlet port 30 so as to be sealed by the water in the trap. A pipe 31 may lead fromv discharge. The discharge of water through pipe 31 will ordinarily be only occasional and small in quantity. It will be understood, however, that the pipe 311s of suiiicient diameter to accommodate the overflow without any possibility of the creation of a siphonic action. The trap 26 is provided with a bonnet 32, yproviding a seat for a valve 33 which controls the flow of steam from the steam inlet 28 of the trap to the steam outlet 34, which lateris connected by pipe 35 with the header 17 of the moisture distributing device 14. The valve 33 is preferably operated, automatically, by a hydrostat, 36, that is a. device.

sensitive to changes in humidity of the atmosphere, which is indicated as an electrically operating device, the circuit 37 of which contains a solenoid coil 38 operating on the stem of valve 33, a spring 39 tending to normally keep the valve 32 open. The valve is closed by the hydrostat if the humidity of the room exceeds the amount for which the hydrostat is set.

The automatic control of steam to the distributing device is optional. It is possible to satisfactorily control the discharge of moisture through the ejector, in many cases at least, by an adjustment of the needle valve 25, since there is little danger that the humidity in an articially heated apartment will reach too high a point. This is particularly so where the ejector is arranged, as my invention contemplates, in the hot air current from the radiator or other heating element. l

In the case of automatic control, the closing of valve 33 will build up a pressure in trap 26 which will ultimately break the water seal and allow escape of steam through pipe 31 to the ash pt of the heater.

A modified form of distributing device is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, in which 40 designates a box having a perforated .cover 41, and a perforated bottom 42 formed with an imperforate channeled portion 43, through which extends a perforated pipe 44 connected with the steam supply pipe 35. A woven wire fabric partition 45 is arranged across the box, which may be supported on the top of the radiator by legs 46. The steam issuing from the perforations in the top of pipe 44 is picked up by the heated air currents passing upwardly through the box and any drops of condensate are intercepted and broken up or precipitated by the wire screen 45. Should any water collect in channel 43, it will be ultimately evaporated.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made without departure from the principles of my invention. It is my intention to cover all variations within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In combination, a distributing device for emitting steam into heated air currents, a flash steam generator-superheater having a water Lasagne supply pipe, a pipe leading to the distributing device and a water sealed trap in the pipe leading to the distributing device, said trap having steam inlet and outlet ports, a water outlet porta water sealed baille-plate interposed between the steam ports and water outlet port and a valve interposed between the steam inlet and outlet ports.

2. In combination, a distributing' device for emitting steam into heated air currents, a ash steam generator-superheater having a water supply pipe, a. pipe leading to the distributing device and a water sealed trap in the pipe leading to the distributing device, said trap having steam inlet and outlet ports, a water outlet port, a water .sealed baille-'plate interposed between the steam ports and water outlet port, a valve interposed be- \tween the steam inlet and outlet ports and a device responsive to humidity changes to close said valve. when the humidity rises above a variable but predetermined value and to open the valve when the humidity falls below said value.

3. In combination with a heater provided with a ue for products of combustion, and a heating unit for heating air currents; a flash steam generator-superheater in said ue; means for supplying said generator-superheater with regulated quantities of water; a device positioned adjacent said heating unit, for distributing superheated steam directly into the heated air currents; a conduit from the generator-superheater to the distributing device; and a water sealed trap positioned in said conduit to receive the steam passing from the generator-superheater to the distributing device, said trap being provided with a water outlet port for discharge of water from the trap` when the water constituting the water seal may be unduly augmented by any condensation of the steam and a valve between the trap and the distributing device to control the ow of steam to the distributing device.

4. In combination with a heater provided with a iiue for products of combustion, and a heating unit for heating air currents; a flash steam generator-superheater in said ue; means for supplying said generator-superheater with regulated quantities of water; a device, positioned adjacent said heating unit, for distributing superheated steam directly into the heated air currents; a conduit from the generator-superheater to the distributing device; a water sealed trap in said conduit to receive the steam passing from the generator-superheater to the distributing device, said trap being provided with a water outlet port for discharge of water from the trap whenever the water constituting the water seal may be unduly augmented by any condensation of the steam; a valve to control the ow of steam from the trap to the distributing device arranged in said trap; and a device responsive to changes in humidity to close said valve when the humidity rises above a variable but predetermined value, and vice versa.

CARL HAGEN. 

